New look for Ayrshire summer scratch league

Jan 7 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THE Ayrshire Summer Scratch League will have a new format in 2011.

Since being launched in 2003, the league has involved an all-in draw for qualifying sections, with the winners progressing to the latter stages of the competition.

While the format for playing individual matches will remain the same, the format of the event itself will alter considerably.

After seeking the views of competing clubs in early 2010, it has been agreed that the 2011 competition will be played in league divisions, with promotion and relegation between leagues. The winning team in the league will be promoted to a higher division with the bottom team relegated.

It is anticipated that the new look will promote keener competition with all matches being meaningful throughout the full programme.

It is envisaged that the initial championship will involve four leagues of five teams, with the lower two leagues possibly involving more or less teams depending on the number of entrants, although there will be the option of introducing a fifth league if interest demands.

For the 2011 competition, the teams entering the event will be placed in divisions using a formula based on performance and position over the last three years of the event. This will be agreed by the AGA executive once all the entrants for 2011 are known.

The present summer scratch league trophy will be presented to the winner of Division One in 2011, with new trophies being introduced for the winners of the other divisions also. Closing date for entries is January 31.

lA NEW award is being launched by the Scottish Golf Union to honour the country’s unsung golfing heroes.

The inaugural winner will be represented alongside the stars of the game at February’s XOS Scottish Golf Awards.

The Scottish golf volunteer of the year award has been created to recognise the contribution made by thousands of club volunteers whose efforts give so much to the running of the game.

The SGU is inviting clubs to nominate their unsung volunteers with the prize of two places at the XOS Scottish Golf Dinner on Friday, February 18 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow.

The leading five nominees as selected by the judging panel will be invited to attend the event with a guest and the winner being presented with their award on the night by one of the leading names in Scottish golf.

The volunteer of the year will also receive an individual prize, in addition to a donation towards golf development at their home club.

Andy Salmon, Scottish golf development manager, said: "We’ve seen so many fantastic examples of volunteering at clubs across the country that we felt it was important to recognise the commitment of these individuals.

"Like many sports, golf relies on the contribution of so many people at a local level and so we are delighted to launch this new award.”

Nomination forms will be available at http://www.scottishgolf.org/ Clubs will also be sent information on the awards through the post and via e-mail.

Entries will close on Thursday, January 20 with the five leading volunteers selected by the judging panel to be profiled on the SGU website and the winner announced on Friday, February 18.

Entry is open to anyone aged 16 or over who is a member of an SGU or SLGA affiliated golf club and an active volunteer on a club committee, junior section or another recognised unpaid position within the club.